I got those 'I'm watching comedy clips cause I'm gay black man in the middle of a hurricane and Trump is in charge so I know I'm screwed' blues

In case y'all don't know, my state of South Carolina is in the middle of an intense Hurricane Florence watch. And based on what Trump said about how his Administration responded when the hurricane hit  Puerto Rico last year (Trump claims success but close to 3,000 people lost their lives), I'm praying extra hard that we get through this one. And keeping my spirits up by watching some hilarious comedy clips. Like the ones below.

My favorites are a wonderful black comedian, Sampson, talking about homophobia in the black church.



Or something not necessarily conducive to this blog, but it's funny anyway. A lot of you remember television show Sanford and Son and the character Aunt Esther. Did you know that the actress portraying Aunt Esther, LaWanda Page, was a brilliant comedian? And very "adult-oriented," too? Seriously, her material goes beyond "not safe for work." Don't say you haven't been warned.

I intend to be here tomorrow with more LGBTQ pertinent material. But pray for me just in case. LOL

'The LGBTQ Heroes of 9/11' & other Tue midday news briefs

The Stories of 9/11's LGBTQ Heroes - The Advocate magazine goes back in time to that awful day in September to spotlight the LGBTQ heroes of 9/11. This article nor news brief is meant to divide people, but simply to spotlight the fact that the LGBTQ community were affected in so many deep ways. From the gay couple and their adopted baby son, to the priest who died while administering last rites at ground zero, to the folks whose actions  saved so many others, these people should never be forgotten, diminished, or homogenized in any way, shape, or form.  For ourselves and future LGBTQ generations.

Remembering 9/11 Hero Mark Bingham - On that same day, on another flight, a gay man was one of a group who gave their lives and kept that day from becoming worse.

Women Say A School For Troubled Teens Punished Girls For Being Gay - Simply tragic.

I came out and my Muslim dad stood by me - Wonderful story which teaches us all about not making negative generalizations.

Missouri Human Rights Commission sued for dismissing transgender man’s discrimination complaint - That's right. Stand up for yourself.

Anti-Trans ‘Bathroom Bills’ Are Based On Lies. Here’s The Research To Show It - It never hurts to have more receipts.

Family Research Council whining that Obama is picking on Trump

The Family Research Council whines about
 Obama's speech.

Former president Barack Obama made a return to the spotlight in order to urge folks to vote for the Democratic party in the upcoming midterms. It was a welcomed return for those of us who miss having an intelligent and decent person in the Oval Office instead of  the sentient pile of dog poop which now pollutes the area.

Naturally conservatives went ballistic in their whines. And very few were more ballistic than the LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council:

Almost two years to the day that Hillary Clinton gave her fateful "deplorables" speech, Obama proved that Democrats still haven't learned how to control their contempt for millions of conservative Americans. With a sanctimony that people learned to despise, one of the most polarizing presidents in history had the nerve to lecture Americans on demagoguery. Implying that Trump supporters are "bigots" and "fearmongers," Obama went on to blame Republicans for tearing the country apart. "...The politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican party," he said. This from a man who made Middle-America bashing a professional sport in his eight years at the White House. Who dismissed blue-collar patriots "bitter clingers" who turn to religion and guns because they're too ignorant to know better. Who called political opponents "unpatriotic" or even "craz[y]." 

Republicans like Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) fired back at the hypocrisy almost immediately, posting, "Pres. Obama is right. It is wrong for a President to use divisive language, such as: 1. Call all opponents of same-sex marriage bigots; 2. Call the Pro-Life movement a 'War on Women;' 3. Call all immigration enforcement advocates racists; 4. Call the GOP the enemy of Hispanics." On Fox News, Judge Jeanine Pirro said that if Obama was looking for someone to blame for the animus, he ought to look in the mirror. "Your lies, your policies, and your divisiveness... You elected Donald Trump."

Aw that's cute . .. and totally inaccurate. I could point out the simple fact that Obama wasn't running in 2016 or how FRC conveniently omitted the big elephant of 2016, i.e. the influence of Putin and Russia i.e. the subject which is presently under intense investigation by Robert Mueller.

But I will merely point out  that as I speak, Trump's disapproval rating is at 60 percent while 40 percent of respondees in a July poll ranked Obama as the best president of their lifetime. And granted, some may cry foul in terms of the timing of the two items, I still stand by the fact that I doubt that Obama would remind most Americans why they voted for Trump. Any notion resembling that is nothing more than a product of the topsy-turvy bullshit world which has been created since Trump attached himself to the Oval Office . . . like a leech.

But one thing which should stand out is how the Family Research Council, a so-called Christian organization, which has openly given Trump what its leader calls a "mulligan," i.e. a pass on cheating on his wife, overlooks all of his lies, personal attacks on people, and incompetence, and basically has acted as the figurative "Groom of the Stool" (look it up. it's naaaasty) for all of his excesses is suddenly getting "offended" at someone for pointing out that Trump is an incompetent boob who is in over his head and will probably cripple America physically, psychologically, and spiritually before his reign of terror is over.

It's amusing how the Family Research Council thinks that the rest of America is as dumb as its supporters.

'RuPaul, 'Queer Eye' win at Creative Emmys, trouble in Massachusetts & LGBTQ conference' & other Monday midday news briefs

RuPaul received a historic win at last weekend's Creative Arts Emmy awards ceremony.

Op-Ed: Massachusetts Could Roll Back Trans Rights This Year — And We Need to Fight Back - This ain't good, y'all.

‘Queer Eye’ Reboot Wins Top Reality Show Emmy - Wow! Congratulations! 

RuPaul Wins Third Consecutive Emmy Award for Outstanding Host - To this day, I still don't know what RuPaul has me on twitter block, but congratulations on your historic win. 

Why Obama is better than Trump, from A to Z - What a good president is versus the sentient cow patty we have now.

The Plot to Bring Down Pope Francis - I am not a fan of the Pope, but I despise the homophobic forces attempting to bring him down.

An emcee at an LGBTQ conference said ‘Ladies and gentlemen, things and its’- This is deliberately the last item. I was a past member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) and support the organization (even though some of them don't think of me as on their "level" of journalism). But this was a bad incident. It wasn't a mistatement. It was an ugly thing to say. It spotlights a bad aesthetic which unfortunately permeates LGBTQ journalism in general. And this aesthetic is not only a problem dealing with transgender issues, it is a problem which deals with issues regarding LGBTQs of color, the geographic location of LGBTQ issues receiving the lion's share of press, even what constitutes the important issues facing the LGBTQ community and who gets to be designated as our public faces and leaders. We don't need a total overhaul, but we seriously need to do some transforming, encouraging, and thinking outside of our clique boxes.

Woodward book - Trump surprised staff with trans troop ban, demeaned trans soldiers' & other Fri midday news briefs

Bob Woodward's book on Trump demonstrates how anti-LGBTQ propaganda can become policy.

Woodward book: Trump surprised top staff with trans military ban: 

 Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), an anti-LGBT lawmaker, had at the time introduced to the House floor an amendment banning the Pentagon from paying for transition-related care after making false claims about exorbitant costs of the procedure. Despite her efforts, the measure couldn’t pass the U.S. House even with a Republican majority. Those false estimates reportedly somehow got to Trump, who made anti-trans remarks about service members getting clipped in response.  

 “What the fuck? They’re coming in here, they’re getting clipped,” Trump reportedly told Bannon, a reference to enlisting and undergoing surgery. “Not going to happen.” 

 That's such a sweet way to talk about men and women who fight for your freedoms. There aren't enough vulgar words for me to fully illustrate my anger at this shit. 


Hate group to host Congresswoman who funneled its false data - Post from 2017 which goes into detail about the lie Hartzler told about transgender troops; the lie which fueled Trump's vulgar comments.

Brett Kavanaugh's 'Obergefell' Comments On Gay Marriage Will Give You Pause - Stop the handwringing. If this man is confirmed, don't assume that we will lose our right to marry. Fight every step of the way. We will not lose what we earned. 

Kavanaugh’s Refusal to Answer Basic Questions On Obergefell is Unacceptable, Reveals Threat He Poses - More details about the above news briefs. 

Funny how the Trump resistance has no problem with his anti-LGBTQ policies - About those "brave folks" who claim to be the "internal resistance" to Trump . .. 

Exclusive: Les Moonves Was Obsessed With Ruining Janet Jackson’s Career, Sources Say - Not necessarily and LGBTQ issue per se, but demonstrates how some people with too much money think they should have power over people. The LGBTQ community does have the same problem to a degree. Who do you think funds the Heritage Foundation, the Family Research Council, and other anti-LGBTQ groups - some idiot with more money than humility or sense.

Key & Peele's advice on gay weddings

The following is just a little bit of comedy to get us through yet again. Comic duo Key & Peele featured an interesting video educating people about gay weddings.  And it's hilarious. While some folks may cry foul over the stereotypes, please bear in mind that the only thing that is being attacked here is ignorance. Plus, I kinda like the idea of "gay hymns" being performed at a gay wedding. But I will pass on the idea of a stripper preacher.

'Transgender boy reminds us all what we are fighting for' & other Thur midday news briefs

A trans boy left his neighbor a thank-you note that will give you the feels - A WONDERFUL story which underlines just how deep the fight for LGBTQ equality and self-determination runs. A transgender woman in Utah put the trans flag up at her home. She received an anonymous letter from a transgender boy thanking her. You can read the letter at the link. It's beautiful in its simplicity. It also serves as reminder that the things we do are being watched by our LGBTQ kids. Every time we stand up and refuse to be disrespected, we empower them and give them what they need. That's the one thing we need to remember - giving our kids hope, enthusiasm, role models, encouragement, and motivation. It doesn't have to be something spectacular, but as long as it's something positive.

India Supreme Court Overturns Colonial-Era Law Criminalizing Same-Sex Relationships - Just in case y'all didn't hear . . . 

India's Supreme Court Decriminalizes Homosexuality in a Historic Ruling for the LGBTQ Community - More on this tremendous event.

Ugandan minister fails to shut down festival ‘for celebrating gay people’ - Oh stop already. You simply can't stop joy, happiness, and progress. 

Pastor tells parents to shun their gay children to ‘show the love of Christ’ - See, this right is here is some high level bullshit.